Since 2012, we have been obsessed with Caine’s Arcade. If you remember, Caine Monroy was the young kid who transformed his Dad’s auto parts store into an incredible cardboard arcade! Boredom creates opportunity, and Caine and his imagination did something that would change his life forever. Caine may be applying to colleges now, but the innovation hasn’t stopped as he follows his dream of becoming a game-maker. He is also a Junior Board Member on Imagination.org, a non-profit founded by LA-based filmmaker Nirvan Mullik who was the one who stumbled across Caine while buying a part for his car and the rest is history!
Click here to see the original 9-minute movie. Check out the lesser know Part 2 video below for some additional cardboard inspiration!
Now that we have you inspired, here’s a fun project! If you don’t have enough supplies, don’t sweat it, just let your imagination run wild and create a blueprint while you take some time to collect some important recycled materials– like toilet paper rolls!
Make your own marble run using recyclables!
MATERIALS NEEDED
- Toilet paper rolls
- Paper towel rolls
- Painters tape
- Scissors
- Bowl or basket
- Marbles or small ball
STEP 1:
Cut some of the paper towel rolls in half. You can use these to create the connecting ramps. Use the uncut rolls for steeper drops so your marble or ball doesn’t fly out.
STEP 2:
Tape each roll to the wall creating a continuous path. Make sure that you provide enough downslope so that a ball can roll without getting stuck on a flat part.
STEP 3:
Place bowl or basket at the bottom of the maze.
STEP 4:
Drop a ball or marble from the top and watch it travel through the maze! See how small changes can either speed things up or slow things down. Which materials roll faster? Why do you think that is?
Share your mazes with us! Email us recreation@redwoodcity.org, or tag us on social media! #KeepBusyRedwoodCity